Control device



Oct. 3, 1939. L. W. 'EGIGI ESTON 2,175,150

CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 26 1937 I INVENTOR M ATTORNEY a thermostatically operated control'device adapted Patented Oct. 3, 1939' UNITED STATES CONTROL DEVICE Lewis W. Eggleston, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application May 26, 1937, Serial No. 144,896

12 Claims.

My invention relates generally to heating and cooling systems and more particularly to controls therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide to control supply of a heating medium to a heat exchanger in winter, and to control supply of a cooling medium to the heat exchanger in summer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control for the above mentioned purpose that will operate to maintain the temperature of the'air of I a room comfortable both during the heating and cooling seasons, and one which will automatically change from heating control to cooling control, and vice versa, in accordance with changes in room temperature.

Another objeet of my invention is to provide'a control of the above mentioned characterhaving an adjustable temperature range of operation so that Within temperature limits any desired high room temperature may be had in winter and any desired low room temperature may be had in summer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a control device of the above mentioned character of new and improved construction.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In'the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have'fully and clearly illustrated my invention, in which drawing- Figure 1 is a view of a radiator and my control device associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical central cross'section,

of my control device;

Fig. 3 is a view shown in cross section taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view in central cross section of a modified form of my control device.

Referring to the'drawing by characters of reference and first to Fig. 1, the numeral I designates in general a heat exchanger or radiator which, in the present instance, is enclosed by' a casing 2. Through its front wall the casing 2 may have, adjacent its top, a plurality of air passages or apertures 3 and, adjacent its bottom, a second plurality of aperturesor air passages 4. Leading to the radiator I there is the usual supply line orconduit 5 in which my control device, designated in general by the numeral 6, may be connected and, if desired, a conventional type of manually operable shut-off valve 1 may be connected in the supply line 5 between the radiator I and the control device 6.

My control device, as shown in Fig. 2, includes a casing 8 of general tubular form having its oppoinner end of the closure plug 9.

site ends closed by removable closure plugs 9 and Ill. The casing 8 has two inlet chambers II and I2, one at each end of the casing, and has an outlet chamber I3 intermediate or between the two These chambers are separated tended, externally of the casing, by a hollow boss I'I that may be suitably connected to'the supply line 5 leading to the radiator I. The inlet chamber I I has an inlet I8 which may be connected by a conduit I9 to a source of supply of a cooling medium which may be cold water or any other suitable cooling medium. Similarly the inlet chamber I2 has an inlet 20 that may be connected by a conduit 2I to a source of supply of a heating medium which may be hot water or any other suitable heating medium. Manually operable shut-off valves 22 and 23 may be provided in the conduits I9 and 2I respectively.

Through the casing internal wall I4 there is a passage or aperture 24 connecting the inlet chamber 'I I and the outlet chamber I3, and through the other internal wall I5 there is a passage or aper ture 25 connecting the inlet chamber I2 and the outlet chamber I3, the passages 24 and 25 preferably being in alignment with each other and with the closure plugs 9 and Ill. The passage 24 has a port and seat 26 that preferably faces inward of the inlet chamber I I wherein there is a reciprocal valve member 28 having a beveled face 21 cooperable with the port to control flow of the cooling medium therethrough. Similarly the passage 25 member 3I that has a beveled face 30 for cooperation with the port to control flow of the heating medium therethrough. The valve members 28 and 3I preferably have aligning stem portions 32 and 33 respectively that project toward each other into the outlet chamber I3 and abut end to end with each other within a bore 34 of a guide member or wall 35. The wall 35 may be integral of and project laterally from the casing side Wall within-the outlet chamber I3, and the valve stems 32 and 33 may be slidably received and'guided in the bore 34. The valve members 28 and 3I are arranged relative to each other and to their rerespective seats so that only one of the valve members can seat at one or the same time.

The valve member 28 may be providedyon the side thereof opposite its stem 32, with a second stem portion 36 that may be slidably received and guided in a bored recess 31 opening through the Surrounding the stem portion 36.there may be provided a helical coil spring 38 having one end in abutment with the closure plug 9 and the other end in abutment with the valve member 28', the spring being under compression urging the valve members 28 and 3|, respectively, toward and away from their seats. In the other closure plug, or plug In, there is a chamber 39 in which there is a metallic bellows 40 that forms part of a thermostatic power element which actuates the valves 28 and 3| against the action of spring 38. The valve member 3| mayhave a stem portion 4| that may project into the bellows chamber 39 and be slidably received and guided in an aperture or bore 42 through the inner end wall, as at 44, of the bellows chamber 39. One end of the bellows 40 is secured and hermetically sealed to the opposite end wall, as at 45, of the bellows chamber 33 and the other or free end of the bellows is closed by and hermetically sealed to a plate or movable end wall 45 that is disposed toward and aligned with the stem 4| of valve member 3|. A rod-like thrust member 41 is preferably carried by and rigidly secured at one end thereof to the movable bellows end wall 48, and the other end 01' the thrust rod is preferably pointed and seats in a recess or socket 48 provided in the end of the valve stem 4|.

The thermostatic power element includes a bulb element 49 for subjection to the temperature of the air of a room or other enclosed space to be air conditioned, and the bulb 49 may be connected to the bellows 40 by a tube or conduit 50. In order to regulate or select the temperature desired to be maintained in a room, a regulator or temperature range adjuster 5|, Fig. 1, may

be prdvided. The temperature regulator 5| may be of any suitable type and, in the present instance, includes an expansible-contractible chamber provided by a bellows 52 that is connected by a conduit 53 to the other bellows 40. The bellows 52 and 40, the bulb element 49 and connecting conduits or tubes 50 and 53 provide a closed variable capacity system that is charged and completely filled with a temperature responsive, expansible-contractible liquid, such as kerosene. The regulator bellows 52 may be supported in a frame 54 and mounted on the radiator casing 2 by a bracket 55. The upper end of the regulator bellows i2 is movable, and operative-1y connected thereto there is a knob 56 by means of which the bellows 52 may be compressed or expanded as may be desired.

' Theoperation of my herein described device is as follows: For the purpose of exposition, assume that the control device 6 is set to operate to maintain a temperature of 70 F. in a room in fin unison, but since one or the other of the inlet winter and to maintain a temperature of 80F.

in the room in summer. In winter, of course,

the cooling system will not be operating butto insure that no water from the cooling system passes through the control device to the radiator, the shut-off valve 22 may be closed. In winter, prior to starting of the heating system, if the temperature of the thermostatic bulb 49 is below the desired temperature, herein taken as 70 F., then the thermostatic liquid will have contracted permitting the spring 38 to hold valve 3| in an open position, as shown in Fig. 2. When the heating system is started, hot water is delivered through the conduit 2| into the inlet chamber |2 of my control device 6, and passes through valve controlled passage 25 into the outlet chamber l3 whence it flows out of the outlet I6 through conduit 5 into the radiator On increase in temperature of the radiator t, gravity circulation of the room air is started, the air flowing into the radiator casing 2 through the lower apertures 4 and discharging back into the room through the upper apertures I-in the radiator casing. As the temperature of the air circulating in heat transfer relation with the radiator increases, the temperature of the bulb element 49 also increases and the thermostatic fluid correspondingly expands exerting a force tending toexpand the bellows 40. When the temperature of the bulb 49 increases to'a temperature such that the force exerted by thethermostatic fluid on the bellows 40 exceeds the opposing force exerted by the spring 38, then the valve 3| will be moved toward its seat 29. When the room air temperature reaches the desired temperature of 70 the valve II will be throttled by the thermostatic power element to admit hot water to the radiator .l in accordance with slight changes in room air temperature whereby to maintain the temperature of the room at 70 F.

When operation 0! the heating system is discontinued and the room air temperature exceeds the desired. temperature, herein taken as 80 F., the thermostatic power element will have moved the valves 28 and 3| to the left, as seen in Fig. 2, moving valve 3| toward closed position and valve 28 toward open position. The shut-off valve 22 in the cold water supply line I9 is now opened, and preferably the valve 23 in the hot water supply line 2| is closed to insure that no water from the heating system passes to the radiator The cooling system is then started and cold water is delivered through conduit I9 into the inlet chamber -H and passes through valve controlled passage 24 into the outlet chamber I3 whence it flows out of outlet l6 through conduit 5 into the radiator On cooling of the radiator gravity circulation of the room air starts, the air entering the radiator casing 2 through its upper apertures 3 and flowing out of the casing through the lower apertures 4. As the temperature of the room air is decreased, the

, temperature of the bulb element 49 is decreased moved towardand away from its seat in accordance with changesin room temperature to main- J tain the desired temperature substantially constant. The valves 28 and 3| are, of course, moved chambers is always closed there will be no flow from the closed chamber. the temperature range ot,-i70 F. to 80 F. was employed for the purpose of exposition only and by means of the regulator 5| any desired range may be had within limits. For example, suppose the temperature setting was 70 F. to 80 F. and a higher temperature range of 75 F. to F. is desired, then the regulator bellows 52, by means of the hand knob 56, is expanded. This increases the volumetric capacity or the thermostatic power element with corresponding increase in volumetric capacity of the system so that the fluid will be required to expand further before it will cause the valve 3| to close and the valve 28 to open, to cause a discontinuing of the heat supply or a starting of the cooling medium flow.

Referring now to a modified form of my control device as shown in Fig. 4, this device is con- As previously stated,

gral with the bottom wall 60 and extends across the casing and joins with the opposite side walls thereof. The internal wall 53 extends upwardly and terminates below, or its top is spaced from the casing top wall 59. The inlet into the easing, as at 64, is within the casing top wall 59 and may be connected by conduits (not shown) to a heating system and a cooling system. The inlet 64 overlies the top of the casing internal wall 63, and interposed between the. inlet BI and the top of wall 63 there is a cylindrical, rotatable valve member 65. The valve member 65 seats against a concave surface portion 66 of cylindrical form that crosses or intersects, and is of larger radius than the inlet 64, and the valve preferably seats and engages in an upwardly facing, cylindrical bearing surface GIiormed in the top of the internal wall 63. The internal wall 63 and the valve 65 cooperate to divide the interior of the casing 59 into two chambers 68 and 69,'and the valve 65 is of the so-called two-way' type by means of which communication may be established between the inlet and either of the two chambers. The valve 65 has a passage 10, the opposite ends of which open through the side of the cylindrical valve in a manner such that one end of the passage may be aligned with the inlet 64 and the other end of the passage may communicate with one of the chambers 68, 69. Through the internal wall 63, below the valve 65, there is a passage or bore H, and leading out of this passage is the outlet, as at 12, which extends downwardly through the vertical wall 63 and through the bottom wall of casing 58. The

outlet 12 may be extended by an external hollow.

boss which may be connected by a conduit to a radiator. The passageor bore H has oppositely disposed ports and seats 13, I4 for -cooperation with the valve members 28 and 3|, and these valves and their associated parts, including a thermostatic power element 15, may be of the same construction as those described in connection with Fig. 2 and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to again describe these parts. Also, the device of Fig. 4 operates in'substantially the same manner as the devic'eoi Fig. 2.

What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of. the United States is:

1. In an air conditioning system having a heat exchangerto which a heating medium is supplied in winter and to which a cooling medium is supplied in summer, a control device forcontrolling supply of the mediums to the heat exchanger comprising, a casing having an inlet chamber for the heating medium and an inlet'chamber for the cooling medium and, having an outlet chamber to communicate with the heat exchanger, a valve to control flow from one of said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, a valve to control flow from the other of said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, said valves being mechanically interconnected so that closing movement of one of said valves will cause the other of said valves to have opening movement, and temperature responsive means to actuate said valves in accordance with the condition of the air in a, space to be air conditioned. L, y

2. In'an air, conditioning system having aheat exchanger to which a heating medium. is supplied in winter and to which a cooling medium is supplied in summer, a control device for controlling supply of the mediums to the heatfexchanger comprising, a casing having an inlet chamber for the heating medium and an inlet chamber for the cooling medium and having an outlet chamber to communicate with the heat exchanger, a valve to control flow from one 01. said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, a valve to control flow from the other of said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, said valves being mechanically interconnected so that closing movement of one of said valves will cause the other of said valves to have opening movement,

temperature responsive means to actuate said valves in accordance with the condition of the air in a space to be air conditioned, and valve means independent of said valves and operable to prevent fl'ow from one or the other of said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber.

3. In an air conditioning system having a heat exchanger to which a heating medium is supplied in winter and to which a cooling medium is suppliedin summer, a control device for controlling flow of the mediums to the heat exchanger comprising, a casing having an inlet chamber'for the heating medium and an inlet chamber for the cooling medium and having an outlet chamber to communicate with the heat exchanger, passages in one direction, and a thermostatic element operable in response to the condition of. the air of a space to move the valve members in the opposite direction.

4. In an air conditioning system having a heat exchanger to which a heating medium is supplied in winter and to which a cooling medium is supplied in summer, a control device for automatically controlling flow to the heat exchanger comprising,.a casing having two flow passages therethrough including a valve port for each passage and having a common inlet and a common outlet for said passages, a valve controlling one of said ports, a valve controlling the other of said ports, said valves being in abutting relation so that movement of one of said valves toward closed position will move the other of said valves toward open position, a thermostatic element for actuating said valves in accordance with the temperature of the air of a space to be air conditioned, and a manually operable valve to close one of said passages to flow therethrough.

passages, a valvemember controlling the other of said passages, means including a thermostatic element sensitive to the temperature within the enclosed space for actuating said valve members, and valve means for stopping flow to said inlet chambers.

6. A control. device for controlling flow of fluid to a heat exchanger within an enclosed space, comprising a casing having two inlet chambers and an outlet chamber, a passage connecting one of said inlet chambers and said outlet chamher, a passage connecting the other of said inlet chambers and said outlet chamber, a valve member to control one of said passages and projecting into said outlet chamber, a valve member controlling the other of said passages and projecting into said outlet chamber, means providing a guide bore within said outlet chamber, said valve members having stem, portions in end to end abutment and slidably received in said guide a bore, and means responsive to thetemperature within the enclosed space for actuating said valve members.

7. A control device for supplying fluid to a heat exchanger for tempering the air stream in a given space, comprising a casing having an inlet chamber for a cooling medium, an inlet chamber for a heating medium and having an outlet,

chamber for said medium, a passage connecting one of. said inlet chambers with said outlet chamber and having a valve seat, a passage connecting the other of said inlet chambers with said outlet chamber and having a valve seat, a reciprocal valve member for controlling one of said passages and projecting into said outlet chamber, a reciprocal valve member controlling the other of said passages and projecting into said outlet chamber in loose abutting relation with said first-named valve member, said valve members being spaced relative to each other and to their respective seats so that only one of said valve members can seat at one time, means for actuating said valve members including a thermostatic power element operable to regulate flow of said medium in accordance with the temperature of the given space, valve means for stopping flow into one of said inlet chambers, andvalve means forstopping flow into the other of said inlet chambers.

8. A control device comprising a casing having an inlet chamber for a cooling medium, an inlet chamber for a heating medium and an outlet chamber for connection with a heat exchanger for an enclosed space, a passage connecting one of said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, a passage connecting the other 01 said inlet chambers to said outlet chamber, valve means to stop flow into one of said inlet chambers, valve means to stop flow into the other of said inlet chambers, a valve member controlling one of-said passages, a valve member controlling the other of said passages, said valve means being mechanically interconnected, means for actuating said a. chambered casing, substantially parallel wall.

means separating said chambers and having alined apertures therethrough, valve means controlling flow through said apertures and operable to control flow of fluid therethrough, conduit means connected to each of said chambers within said casing, one of said conduit means being operable to supply a fluid heating medium, a second conduit means being operable to supply a fluid cooling medium, a third conduit means being operable to conduct the outlet fluid medium from said casing to the heat exchanger, temperature sensitive means operable to control the flow of fluid medium through said third conduit means and operable by the temperature of the enclosed space comprising, a bellows member within said casing, a second bellows member ways between said inlet chambers and said outlet chamber, valve means controlling flow of fluid through said passageways, said casing having a.

common inlet means to said inlet chambers and a common outlet means from said outlet chamber, a valve member within said casing and operable to direct flow of fluid from said common inlet means into one of said inlet chambers, and thermostatic means operable to actuate said valve means.

11. In a valve of the character described, a chambered casing having a plurality of cham-. bers interconnected by passageways, valve means in said passageways controlling flow of fluid therethrough, thermostatic means operable to actuate said valve means, said casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a two-way valve member in said casing inlet opening and operable at one setting to direct fluid flow solely into one of said chambers and at another setting to direct fluid flow solely into the other of; saidchambers, said casing outlet opening leading from another of said chambers so that said valve means is operable to control flow of fluid through said casing according to the temperature of said thermostatic means.

12; In a heat exchangingsystem for use either for adding or subtracting heat to maintain a substance at a substantially constant predetermined temperature, a heat exchanger for a heat exchanger fluld, valve means controlling flow oi the fluid to said exchanger comprising, a casing having an inlet, an outlet, a plurality of passageways between said inlet and said outlet, thermostatic valve means in said passageways so that flow of fluid through one of said passageways is regulated for cooling the substance to the predetermined temperature and another of said passageways is regulated to heat the substance to the predetermined temperature, a valve member in said inlet and operable at one position to direct flow of fluid solely through one '0! said passageways and at another position to direct the flow of fluid solely through another of said passage-- ways so that by means 01 said valve member said valve means can be used for heating or cooling.

LEWIS W. EGGLESTON. 

